He restores the lost
Giving to God is something that comes out of the heart, and believers from all paths of life take pleasure in it. It is a way to serve God when we can use our funds to fund a cause that is directly linked to a mission from God. Because God’s people out of their gratefulness of heart decided to bring offerings and tithes to God, he designated a place for them to do this (Deut12:11). It was a place where his name would be in. With Malachi God tells his people to bring all their offerings and tithes to a storehouse (3:10-11), and he would provide protection to their crops at home and in their fields. And, this is in reference to God’s promise to blessing the cheerful giver (2Cor9:7), the protection of our assets becomes of him to watch for and assure. When Hezekiah gave the order to have the people bring their tithes and offerings, the people became excited and brought their offerings everyday. It was to the point that the king had to set a place, a storehouse, to store all the gifts (2Chr31:5-6). Now, one does not have to have God watch over their assets and surely he does not watch over everyone’s possession; leaving them at risk. But, it is a great thing to have the all knowing, all seeing, all powerful watch and secure our belongings. Now, just because God watches over our assets does not mean that the enemy will not try to harm them or destroy them, because he will; that is the battle. But, God is a restorer, he will restore that which may become lost, and this he spoke of his people (Am9:14).
Amos 4:4-5
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.c] 5 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings boast about them, you Israelites for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
God spoke to a people who had experienced the benefits that comes with giving to him via Amos. But something had happened to them that affected their giving, they allowed personal interest to step in the way. They began to get into idol worship aside from giving to God. They continued to give to God despite their worship to the pagan gods. Their giving of offerings and tithes to God became tainted when they began to add leaven to their bread they offered. Adding leaven to the bread in their offering added flavor to the taste of the bread, but it was a contaminant to the offering. Adding just a little leaven to the offering leaven the entire offering (1Co5:8). The dual worship gave the worshippers a boast of pride. The idea that they could comply with God and at the same time were satisfy their passions was enticing. They were trying to keep a corrupt relationship with God and the world (Jms4:4). The offering was to be flavored to God’s taste and not to man. It needed to have a sense of purity,
11 Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.
Malachi 3:10-11
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Chronicles 31:5-6
5 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. 6 The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.
Amos 9:14
and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.a]
“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
1 Corinthians 5:8
8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
James 4:5
4 You adulterous people,a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.